May it prove to the advantage of us all. At the least I have done
my best for your safety, and now we part."
"You are a good man," replied Rachel, "and whatever may befall us, I
pray again that God may bless you for your kindness to His servants.
I pray also that He may lead you to a knowledge of the truth as it was
declared by the Lord and Master Whom we serve, that your soul may win
salvation and eternal life."
"Lady," said Amram, "I know nothing of these doctrines, but I promise
you this: that I will look into them and see whether or no they commend
themselves to my reason. I love wealth, like all my people, but I am
not altogether a time-server, or a money-seeker. Lady, I have lost those
whom I desire to find again."
"Seek and you will find."
"I will seek," he answered, "though, mayhap, I shall never find."
Thus they parted.
Presently the night breeze began to flow off the land, the great sail
was hoisted, and with the help of oars, worked by slaves, the ship
cleared the harbour and set her course for Joppa. Two hours later the
wind failed so that they could proceed only by rowing over a dead and
oily sea, beneath a sky that was full of heavy clouds. Lacking any stars
to steer by, the captain wished to cast anchor, but as the water proved
too deep they proceeded slowly, till about an hour before dawn a sudden
gust struck them which caused the galley to lean over.
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